Folding chair



March 28, 1939. A. B. PARK 2,152,149

FOLDING CHAIR v Filed June 14, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATIORNEYJ.

March 1939- A. B. PARK FOLDING CHAIR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14.1937 ATTORNEYS.

a Z p IIiVENT OK W 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A. B. PARK FOLDING CHAIR Filed June14, 19 37 Z '6 INVENTOR. M W

March 2 1 939.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING CHAIR Alan B.Park, Metropolis, Ill., assignor to The Metropolis Bending Company,Metropolis, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application June 14, 1937,Se'rial No. 148,027

Claims.

This invention relates to folding chairs, and more particularly tochairs wherein the seat frames are pivotally connectedto rear sidemembers comprising legs and backs and wherein the .front legs arepivotally connected to the fronts of the said seat frames.

It is the general purpose and object of the invention to provide chairsof this type with a novel form of latch construction which will not onlyhold the chair in open position while permitting convenient operation ofthe latch construction, but, will also form a firm and rigid connectionbetween the front legs and the seat frame when the chair is in such openposition.

Afurther object ofthe invention is to secure the foregoingadvantages ina construction which combines simplicity of construction with cheapnessof production.

The latch construction embodied herein constitutes an improvement onthat illustrated, described and claimed in the application of Clenny B.Harrell, patented July 6, 1937, No. 2,085,973.

In the drawings illustrating my invention, Fig. 1 is a central verticalsectional View showing in open position a chair embodying my invention;Fig. 2 a similar view showing the chair in folded position; Fig.3 asectional view corresponding substantially to the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;Fig. 4 is a detail in plan and section of a corner of the chair frame,showing my latching mechanism, said view corresponding substantially tothe line 4-4 of Figs. 1 and 5; Fig. 5 a detail in section correspondingsubstantially to the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 a detail in sectioncorresponding substantially to the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. '7 a detailin section corresponding to the line 1-1 of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 a viewsimilar to Fig. 5 showing a modification of my latching construction,the said view corresponding to the line 88 of Fig. 9; Fig. 9 a View,similar to Fig. 4, of said modified form of latching mechanism; Fig. 10a View, similar to Fig. 6 and corresponding to the line llll0 of Fig. 8;and Fig. 11 a view, similar to Figs. 4- and 9, showing a still furthermodified form of my invention.

In the drawings, the numeral l0 indicates generally a back framecomprising the rear legs and chair back, formed as a unit and consistingof upright elements H and transverse elements l2. The front legs l3 andM are connected by a transverse member l5, and the front and rear legsare pivoted together adjacent to the, bottoms thereof by a pivotingfront rung l6 and a pivoting back rung I! connected by spaced elementsI8 fixedly connected thereto.

The seat frame is composed of side elements and a back elementpreferably made into an integral U-shaped element l9; also a frontelement 2!! to which the side elements are joined at their front ends. Achair seat 2| may be pivotally connected to the side of the seat frameabove the leg to which the said bracket is attached, 26 denoting suchpivotal connection. 21 denotes a pair of detents each of which ispivotally connected at its lower end to the lower portion of each hingebracket, as shown at 28.

These detents are located adjacent to the front element and eachis'provided adjacent to its upper edge with a slot 29 extendingthereinto from the rear edge thereof, the upper wall 29 of each slotbeing inclined downwardly from the rear toward the front thereof and thebo tom wall 29 of each slot being inclined upwardly from the rear endthereof, thereby to cause the slot walls to converge toward the frontseat frame element.

3!] denotes a spring which yieldingly connects the upper portion of eachdetent with the hinge bracket on which it is pivotally mounted. One endof each spring is conveniently supported from its hinge bracket by meansof a lug 3| struck therefrom, while the other end of each spring extendsaround a rod 32 which is connected to the upper portions of both detentsand extends across the front of the chair seat frame.

33 denotes angular members each having one end anchored within the frontportion of a side element of the seat frame and its opposite endanchored in the front element of said frame. The members 33 may be madeof heavy wire stock and constitute fixed latch members with which theupper ends of the detents 21 cooperate as well as means for reinforcingthe connections between the side and front elements of the seat frame.

With the parts constructed and arranged as described, it is believedthat the operation will be readily understood. When the chair is in openposition, the latch members 33 are engaged by the upper and lowersurfaces of the slots in the detents respectively adjacent thereto. Toaccommodate wear, a clearance is provided between the bottom'or frontend of each slot and the latch member therein. This construction ensuresat all times a rigid connection between the front legs and the seatframe. When it is desired to fold the chair, the operator grasps thefront seat element 20 and the rod 32, moving the rod forwardly, whichdisengages the detents from their fixed latch members, permitting thechair to be folded to the position shown in Fig. 2. Stops 34, preferablystruck from the hinge brackets 24, limit the rearward movement of thedetents drawn by their respective springs, so that, when the chair isopened, the cam surface 21 on the upper end of each detent will beengaged by its corresponding latch member 33, thereby to move the upperend of each detent forwardly until the fixed latch member registers withthe notch therein, whereupon the springs 33 will move the detents to theposition shown in Figs. 1 and 5. Where the detents are located in closeproximity to the front element 26 of the seat frame, the said elementmay be provided with a notch 28* at each end thereof to permit thedetents to be moved forwardly a sufiicient distance to be disengagedfrom the fixed latch members 33.

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 there is shown a modification of the latchingmechanism shown in the preceding views, wherein the parts correspondingto those shown in the preceding views are identified by the samenumerals. In this modified construction of my latching mechanism, therod 32 has its opposite ends connected to the detents 27 and to springs30 in the same manner as shown in Figs. 1 to 6. However, the latchmembers with which the detents cooperate are constructed and supportedin a different manner than is the case with the members 33.

35 denotes one of a pair of angle plates each of which has one leg "55secured against the inner face of a side element H! of the frame, whileits other leg 35 extends along the adjacent rear face of the frontelement 20, being secured thereto by screws 36. The legs 35 of theseplates 35 are secured to their respective side elements by rivets 25which rivets also serve to secure the rear ends of the hinge brackets 31to the side elements of the frame, a spacing washer 38 being interposedbetween the rear end of each hinge bracket and the leg 35*. This spacingwasher compensates for the projection of the adjacent leg I 3 inwardlybeyond the side element [9.

Each leg 35 has struck therefrom a tongue 39 projecting rearwardlytherefrom and forming part of a fixed angular latch member andsupporting one end of the rod portion fill of said member which isengaged by the detent adjacent thereto, the outer end of the said memberbeing anchored, as by riveting, to the leg 35*? of the angle plate 35.Each hinge bracket. 31 is connected to the front leg l3 in substantiallythe same manner as is the case with the hinge brackets in Figs. 1-6inclusive, the only difference being that the inner heads of the rivets25 are countersunk within the said hinge brackets, as shown at 25 Eachhinge bracket is provided with stops 34 struck therefrom and located inthe same position as the like-designated stops in Figs. 1-6. Inaddition, each of the hinge brackets is shown as provided with a lowerstop 34 struck therefrom, serving to limit the forward movement of thedetents by the rod 32 and springs 36. a

It will be noted that the front of each of the hinge brackets is soshaped as to formfa vertically extending wall or abutment M which isadapted to be engaged by the rod 40. This construction, in cooperationwith the shape of the slots formed in the detents, effects a'somewliatmore rigid conneotion between each front leg [3 and. the side elementsof theseat frame when the chair is in its open position than isobtainable by the latching mechanism shown in the preceding Views.

Furthermore, the angle plates from which the to position the hingebracket plates 31 in proper operative relation to the other parts, Iemploy with each hinge bracket a spacer 38 the width of which is equalto the projection inwardly beyond each side element of the top of theadjacent front leg I3 In all forms of my invention, the portion of eachlatch member which is engageable by a detent is of sufficient length toenable such engagement to be accomplished, notwithstanding widevariations in the width of the upper ends of the front legs.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a folding chair, the combination of a back, a seat frame pivotedto said back and including a pair of side elements and a front elementconnected thereto, 'a pair of front legs, a bracket pivotally connectingeach front leg to a side element, a detent movably mounted on the innerface of each of the said brackets, fixed latch members connected each tothe front portion of a side element and to the front element of the seatframe and each having a portion spaced from the said front element, saidportions being adapted, when the chair is in open position, to beoperatively engaged by said detents, respectively, and means forsimultaneously operating said detents thereby to unlatch the same fromsaid fixed latch members. 7

2. In a folding chair, the combination of a back, a seat frame pivotedto said back and including connected side and front elements, frontlegs, a bracket pivotally connecting each front leg to a side element, adetent movably mounted on the inner face of each of said brackets, fixedlatch members connected each to the front portion of a side element andto the front element and each having a portion spaced from. the saidfront elementQsai-d portions being adapted, when the chair is in openposition, to be operatively/ engaged by said detents, each, of saiddetents having a slot projecting thereinto provided with an inclinedwall, the said slot being of arwidth to engage the upper and lowerportions of the fixed latch member therewithin when the chair is infully open position, and means for simultaneously operating said detentsto unlatch the same from said fixed latch members.

In a folding chair, the combination of a back, a seat frame pivoted tosaid back and including side elements and a front element connectedthereto, front legs, brackets secured to said front legs and pivotallyconnecting the same to said side elements, a detent pivotally mounted onthe inner face of each of said brackets and each having a slot extendingthereinto from the rear edge thereof, angular fixed latch membersconnecting the front ends of the side elements with the front elementand each having a portion spaced from the said front element, saidportions being adapted, when the chair is in open position, to bereceived within'the slots of the said detents, respectively, a springcarried by each bracket and connected to the detent thereon and tendingto move the upper end of the same rearwardly, an operating rod common toboth detents for moving the same simultaneously out of engagement withtheir respective latch members, and a stop projection carried by eachbracket to limit the rearward movement of each detent by its spring, theconverging toward the front ends adapted to engage with the top andbottom. walls thereof theirrespective cooperating fixed latch memberswhen the chair seat is in its open position.

4. In a folding chair, back, a seat frame pivoted to said back andincluding a pair of side elements and a front element connected thereto,a pair of front leg elements, a bracket pivotally connecting each frontleg element to a side element, a detent movably mounted on each of thesaid brackets, angular fixed latch members connecting the front of eachside element with the front element of the seat frame and each having aportion the said front adapted, when he operatively engaged by saiddetents, respectively, and means for simultaneously operating saiddetents thereby to unlatch the same from said fixed latch members. I

5. In a folding chair, the combination of a back, a seat frame pivotedto said back and including connected side and front elements, frontlegs, a bracket pivotally connecting each front leg to a side element, adetent movably mounted latch member of each side element with the frontelement, each of said members having a portion spaced from the saidfront element, said portions being adapted, when the chair is in openposition, to be operatively engaged by said detents, each of saiddetents having a slot projecting thereinto and having a cam surface onits upper wall and being of a width to engage the upper and lowerportions of the fixed latch member therewithin when the chair is infully open position, and means for simultaneously operating said detentsto unlatch the same from said fixed latch members.

6. In a folding chair, the combination of a back, a seat and includingside elements and a front element connected thereto, front legs,brackets secured to connecting the same the combination of a to saidside elements, a detent pivotally mounted on each of said brackets andeach having a slot extending thereinto from an edge thereof, angularfixed latch members connecting the front ends of the side elements withthe 5 and each having a portion spaced from the said front element, saidportions being adapted, when the chair is in open p to be receivedwithin the slots of the said detents, respectively, a spring carried byeach bracket and connected to the detent thereon and tending to move theupper end of the same in a direction to engage V the cooperating latchmember, an operating rod common to both detents for moving the samesimultaneously out of engagement with their respective latch members,and a stop projection limit the movement each detent being provided withan inclined surface extending from the slot therein and adapted to beengaged by its cooperating fixed latch member as the chair seatapproaches its open position.

'1. In a folding chai the combination of a back, a seat frame pivoted tosaid back and including a pair of side elements and a front elementconnected thereto, a pair of front legs, a bracket pivotally connectingeach front leg to detent movably mounted on the each of the saidbrackets, anangle plate extending along the inner face of the frontportion of each side element and along the rear face of the portion ofthe front element adjacent thereto and secured to said elements, fixedlatch members each connected to the legs of each of the said angleplates, each of said members having a portion spaced from the said frontelement, said portions being adapted, when the chair is in openposition, to be operatively engaged by said detents, respectively, andmeans for simultaneously operating said detents thereby to unlatch thesame from said fixed latch members.

In the combination recited in claim, beach fixed latch member ing oneend supported by the leg of the angle is secured to a side element andits opposite end supported by an element projecting from the other legof said plate.

9. In a folding chair, the combination of a back, a seat frame pivotedto said back and including connected side and front elements, frontlegs, a bracket pivotally connecting each front leg to a side detentmovably mounted on the inner face of each of said brackets, fixed latchmembers connected each to the front portion of a side element and to thefront element, each of said members having a portion spaced from thesaid front element, said portions being adapted, when the chair is in beoperatively engaged by said said detents having and being of a width toengage lower portions of the fixed latch member therewithin when thechair is in fully open position, and each of said brackets having a walladapted to engage the latch member adjacent thereto when the latter iswithin the slot of the detent with which it cooperates, and means forsimultaneously operating said detents to unlatch the same from said 10.In a folding chair, the combination of a back, a seat frame pivoted tosaid back and including a pair of side elements and a front elementconnected thereto, a pair of front legs, a bracket secured to the innerface of the upper portion of each front leg and each having a rearwardlyextending portion pivotally secured to the front portion of a sideelement, a detent movably mounted on the inner face of the portion ofeach of said brackets which is secured to the front leg, fixed latchmembers connected each to the front portion of a side element and spacedfrom the front element of when the chair is in open position, to beoperatively engaged by said detents respectively, each of said detentshaving a slot projecting forwardly thereinto from being of a width toengage the upper and lower porcooperating fixed latch member therewithinwhen the chair is in fully open position, a rod extending across thefront of the said frame, adjacent to the front element thereof andconnecting the said detents, and a spring located on the inner side ofeach bracket and operatively connected to the detent which is movablymounted on said bracket.

ALAN B. PARK.

comprising an element hav-

